Daily Republican., 1887-10-17
THIRD EDITION.
Inc Kiaunensl niilis

At the conclusion Of the test OF Gray'i
Automatic Fire Sprinkler at kiamensi
last Friday afternoon, q reporter OF the
REPUBLICAN, took q stroll through the
mills and was not oRly surprised at thei'
extent, but also at the quality OF the
goods produced. These mills consist ol
a long building, three stories high, and
furnith employment to about one bun
dred and fifty hands, men ard girls. Tine
twisting, winding and warping room Is
on tfr. third floor, and both sides of the
room are occupied with machtDery.--
There are two large twisting machines in
this room, each of which holds ninety
bobbirs, and 1. Is an interesting sight to a
visitor to see the rapidity with which the
WORK Is done. Black sad white threa s
are twisted together so quick, and the
bobb!ns on which il ts wound fy 50 faS
that 1t is impossible Tor the eye 10 follow
them. AT one end OF she room beamor
was busy getttng a warp resdy for TIE
weayers, and while the work booked easy
and simple, the visitor was aselred that 1t
required the greatest nicely, and could
only be done by careful. experienced
hand
The patters depars.ient isat the oFpo-
site end of tle room, and In Shis plscs all
originated. There sse abov: forty hands
employed on this Geor, abs all ths yarn
used by the weavers is prepared here.
The wesTing room is IN the eocond
floor, and the noise made ty the looms is
almost deaicning 10 a person unaccustom
ed to 1t. There are forty looms in this
room, oil ef them wonderful pieces OF
machinery, and a.rerson scarcely Knows
which to. admire the most, the tCtricate
machines, or the work they turn out.
A visitor can stand by one OF tbes< looms,
with It's myriads C4 wheels and -compli-
Gated mac hinery, eld see threads turned
iuto cloth, but uale.s he6las a kaowIedge
OF the business he'can study long but in
vain, to understand how It is done. The
machines seem tosalmost have human In
telligence, and as the bobbin flies through
the war; the mixed three is are.surned In
TO cloth
The finishing Eoom is on the lower floor,
and here every inch of the closh is care
fully Inspected, and allImperfsctions re-
moved. 1t Is alfo washe6 and fullcd In
this room and the processes thClgh which
1t passes seem te the uninitia.ed almost
sufficient to tea, It TO pieces. There are
machines for raising tie nap sld doing q
dozen other different things requisite to
make the cloth readyi.or the market, aud
and st last it is passed between heated
rollers and comes out inishe{, really TO
be measured and done up In bales.
The entire mil is busy hive of indus
try, and the cheerful countenances of the
employees spoke lou1er than words Of
god wages, and consequently comforta-
Ble homes Ak kinds of csesin eres are
m de at this mill, and the qIality OF the
goods is fully equal TO the rest imported.
In the finishing room there were large
piles of extra tine cassImeres many of the
designs OF which are entirely new, and
originated in the M There was also
fne assortment OF silk mixed and Nan
Iucket goods, in fact there are but few
per ons In this city who have any idea of
the varieties, kinds and superior quality
OF the cloths manufactured ia this mill,
within miles OF Wilmington.
In addition 70 the maiu ballding there
is large Office, dye house, picker room
aud other cut buildings, making the en-
tire plant cover q considerable area OF
ground, Some Of the employ ees I've iu
neat, comfortable houses IN the immediate
vicinity, while others reside Ut quite
distance.